Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-04-30
HER B0ATMAN. j!

;Ss.cmc gigantic serpent half over
rome / f; he letnarGy OF sleep.
We're and :..:o.c the moonbeams fel
upon the surface OF the water, sTeat
mos of silvery whiteness, amidst the
d,rt shadows cast by the heavy fo.?
,,eof the cedar shrubbery which grew
between the almost perpendicular
rocks OF the high banks.
Fifty feet above the surface OF the
water they reared themselves, and at
ono mint they jutted rd as ii to
soIute each other, while the river be-
meath them deepened and narrowed.
At this point a bridge had once been
,browu across-a bridge which had
become q complete ruin, one timber
alone remaining to mark thespot; one
lon, and narrow beam-it could not
have been more than six inches IN
width-stilI maintained its pace, and
IN mutelanguage informed tine stranger
that once there had been connection
bstveen Rocky Hill and the mount
aims on the other side.
Upon the surface OF the river there
was small rowboat, containing a
slender. crouching form wrapped in u
dark cloak.
From the top of the bank upon
either side this rowboat would have
been invisible, but 1t was there, max
ing its way up and down past the
rocky buttress which upheld the beam,
always avoiding the moonlit spots
npon the river,
The sounds ot caroGsai were usurp-
ing the place of the quiet of the night,
the drunken Jest and the coarse laugh
ter breaking in upon the sentimental
notes OF "Home, Sweet Home"-sung,
you would have averred, by some
lonely youth who was far from the
scenes OF his boyhood-came plainly
to the ears OF this silent watcher upo n
the river, who, it seemed. could NOT
tear herself away from the Sounds
which came from the the saloon upon
the rivers bank.
Once only did the moonbeams fall
upon her fair, upturned lace.
IL was the face of a woman who
should never have been m that wild,
lonely spot, listening for the sound OF
voice which had grown to address
her with refined words which were the
cruelest OF the cruel, waiting there up
on that lonely river. for-she knew
not what.
Muriel Warner was the daughter of
wealthy parents. She had married,
when very young, a man whomshe had
worshiped as the embodiment OF man.
ly worth and the perfection of manly
beauty. Friends and relatives had
crowded about her with envis,us con-
gratulations, and for a time her life
was perfect happiness.
But change had come. Fred War
ner was not what he had seemed. On
ly a few short weeks OF happin, ss, and
the handsome husband had plunged
into the widest dissipation. llriends
remained to her as long as the money
remained, and then they began to hint
that perhaps Muriel was not alttogeth-
er blameless.
This was something which the spir-
tied wife would not stand. She broke
with relatives and friends and clung
to the dissipated man who wai' her
husband. From one city to another
ne had dragged her with him, and now
he had deserted her AMI she hail fol-
lowed him.
His was the cultured voice, which
warbled OF Home, Sweet Home"
while his wife was n penniless, half
crazed creature, out upon the River.
And she was penniless, for. regard
less oil food or shelter, she hsvd paid
out her last cent for the use of the
boat which brought her, unse.n III, vet
nearer to him.
A quick, sharp report broke imupon
the mellow voice OF the singer.
IL was the report OF a revolver Mu-
tlei could hear the excited shouts. the
neaVy trampling of feet, the bs nging
o, a door. and then the weipl cry,
Hali paralyzed. the frightened wom-
an rested upon her oars, iust under
.ne oeam which had once belonged to
the old bridge.
Inc sound of heavy feet, rapidly ap.
Proachlng came from the bank close
aI hand, and then n dark form rushed
out between her and the moondlt sky
above her. "'
III was mans figure, and l.e was
attempting to cross the river unon
the narrow beam.
Excited shouts and the tramp of hur.
RED feet followed him to the rivers
brink.
stop shouted a voice. "Iar
rest you for murder"
NO reply came from the escan;n,
rSure' which sped nimbly along its
narrow way. Us
"A sharp chorus OF revolvers follow
w shot OTTER shot was fired, and then
'he dark figure wavered, the bands
Easpeo wildly at the air. and then
there was n fall.
lie water deluged MuriJ with y
o~er OF drops as the BODY entered
,me water Shouts and the e1ultant
,elreat,ng voices held her attention
.I'n .n'u sne ielt something creeping into
the boat behind her. '' 'i'o
shrek. s'ereu iaiht
mn.aU, ,aah, and more than likely the
hS'Serer. hsr1;s,, had taken possession of
musie", nS me me the oars" said a stern.
said ~ aee not wounded. tbengD she
ping figure. away rom the drip
i am not woprauap